Creativity Books You Should Read

Creative people find inspiration everywhere and anywhere. One of the ways I get inspired is by reading books written about/by other creatives. These creativity books fall into both those categories.

By reading these creativity books, you can not only learn the habits and tactics used by other creatives, you can also learn how best to lead creative people.

I will add to this list as I read more, but if you have one that you think I should read, let me know! If you read one of these or have a suggestion for me, tag me on Instagram or Twitter with @kylewierks or on Facebook at Great North Dynamics.

Love him or hate him, Steve Jobs epitomized the cross-section between creativity, leadership, and business. Isaacson is a powerful storyteller, and the tale he weaves about Steve Jobs is objective and fair. If you're interested in the life of Steve Jobs, this book will be exactly what you're looking for, but it is just as interesting and important for anyone who wants to understand how creativity drives innovation. This book changed the way I view business and industry, and I would recommend it wholeheartedly.

Walt Disney is without a doubt one of the most iconic storytellers and creatives of the 20th century, and possibly even of the 21st century. Not only is his personal story fascinating, but so are the lessons on creativity and success inside the pages. I've placed this book in the creativity section, but it would fit equally well in the success and leadership sections. Neal Gabler is a good author, though some parts of the biography can get dry. All in all, it is a fascinating read with good lessons throughout.

The Element is about finding your passion and could probably be included in my section on success, but I use Robinson's ideas and theories in a lot of my talks and posts about creativity. The whole point of this book is that people thrive once they find their passion, and as a society we should do a better job of helping creative people find their passions. Creativity is a skill that must be fostered and practiced, and The Element is a critique of how our society (especially our education system) handles the practice of creativity.